# Rod Drury

> Rod Drury is a New Zealand technology entrepreneur who co-founded Xero with Hamish Edwards in 2006 and served as CEO until 2018. His earlier businesses included Glazier Systems and AfterMail; later work includes investment, environmental restoration and backing Queenstown infrastructure proposals. In 2026 he faced misconduct allegations, which he denied, and returned his New Zealander of the Year award. On 20 October 2026, Xero apologised for its handling of a 2017 complaint after an independent review.

- **Role:** Co-founder and former CEO at Xero; investor and infrastructure backer
- **Organizations:** Xero, Glazier Systems, AfterMail, Context Connect, Pacific Fibre, Trade Me, Southern Infrastructure
- **From:** Wellington, New Zealand
- **Nationality:** New Zealander
- **Education:** Napier Boys’ High School, Commerce and administration studies, Victoria University of Wellington
- **Known for:** Co-founded and led Xero through its early public listing and international expansion., Built Glazier Systems and AfterMail, both acquired by other companies., New Zealand Hi-Tech Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006 and 2007.

## Career timeline

- **1995** — Established Glazier Systems.
- **1999** — Glazier Systems was acquired by Advantage Group.
- **2006** — Quest Software acquired AfterMail in January; co-founded Xero with Hamish Edwards later that year.
- **2007** — Xero listed on the NZX, raising NZ$15 million.
- **2010** — Co-founded Pacific Fibre, a proposed trans-Pacific cable venture.
- **2012** — Pacific Fibre abandoned its cable project after failing to secure sufficient funding.
- **2018** — Steve Vamos succeeded him as Xero CEO on 1 April; Drury remained a non-executive director.
- **2023** — Retired from the Xero board at the close of the 17 August annual meeting; the company announced he would remain an adviser.
- **2025** — Backed Southern Infrastructure’s development of a proposed Queenstown cable-car network.
- **2026** — Knighted in the New Year Honours; returned New Zealander of the Year award in May while denying misconduct allegations; Xero apologised in October for its handling of a historical complaint.

## Achievements

- Co-founded and led Xero through its early public listing and international expansion.
- Built Glazier Systems and AfterMail, both acquired by other companies.
- New Zealand Hi-Tech Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006 and 2007.
- Inducted into the New Zealand Hi-Tech Hall of Fame in 2009.
- Victoria University of Wellington Distinguished Alumni Award, 2011.
- EY New Zealand Entrepreneur of the Year, 2013.
- Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2026 New Year Honours.
- Inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame in 2025; NBR reported removal of his induction story from its website in May 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — On 20 October, Xero confirmed completion of Maria Dew KC’s review of its handling of a 2017 whistleblower complaint and apologised to Ally Naylor and other former employees whose experience did not meet current expectations. It announced further changes to complaint handling and governance.
- **2026-05** — Returned the 2026 New Zealander of the Year award on 8 May while rejecting misconduct allegations. The awards office said the award would not be re-awarded.
- **2026-01** — Appointed Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2026 New Year Honours.
- **2025-12** — Southern Infrastructure announced preferred suppliers for its proposed NZ$400 million Queenstown cable-car network.

## Links

- Website: https://www.drury.net.nz/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roddrury/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/roddrury

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/rod-drury
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-20